HAPPY new year

Happy New year everyone!! Almost exactly a year ago, Caleb and I sat in bed late at night and filled out our adoption application online through our agency. Although, we had been praying and talking about adopting for 3 1/2 years, I was only just then about to turn 30. (The required age to adopt from China) So we were allowed to move forward. We were so nervous…. “ok, this is it…… we’re really doing this…for real”… (deep breath, hit “submit application” button) “Here we go.”

I felt, at that time, Jesus was asking us to “step out of the boat” and “onto the water” in faith, trusting that he wouldn’t let us sink.

There’s an amazing song out right now by Hillsong, called “Oceans”.

Most of you have probably heard it, and it probably speaks something different to you than it does to me. But to me, the words describe exactly what we have been going through this past year in our adoption journey:

You called me out upon the water, to great unknown, where feet may fail. and there I find you in the mystery, in oceans deep, my faith will stand. I will call upon your name, and keep my eyes above the waves, when oceans rise, my soul will rest in your embrace, I am yours and you are mine.

Your grace abounds in deepest waters, your sovereign hand will be my guide, where feet may fail and fear surrounds me, you’ve never failed me and you wont start now.

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the water, wherever you would call me, take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my savior.

We’ve been in deepest waters this past year, where feet should have failed, and fear has surrounded me. But it is there that we have found him time and again. He’s never failed me….. he has never failed her, our daughter in China. never. and he wont start now.

We received some amazing news on New years eve from our agency. They informed us that they have received our LOA!!! (Letter of acceptance) That’s the paper we’ve been waiting on in order for us for to move forward with the next step. We were told it could take 30-120 days. Ours took 34 days!! This is so amazing! Our agency worker said that was surprisingly fast. His grace abounds in deepest waters.

So, the next few steps are pretty crazy. More paperwork, important paper work… to our government, and theirs, more praying, more waiting…. but the good news is, this has significantly changed our travel window!! We will be in China sooner than we thought.

We won’t know for sure when we are to travel until we get our TA (Travel approval) from China. When that happens we will have about two or three weeks to get flights, and pack, ect. BUT, what we do know is, on “average” it takes around 3 months from LOA to travel, if everything goes smoothly. Soooooo we could be flying to China in 3 months!!!!!!! We could be holding our baby girl in 3 months!!! AHHHHHH!!!

Please be praying for God’s hand to be on the rest of the paperwork needed, for quickness in every possible way with every document, and for the rest of the money that is due NOW to our agency to come in miraculously!! (just over $6,000 needed… like, yesterday )

He’s never failed us, and he wont start now.

** I meant to post a blog on Christmas eve, you know between making homemade doughnuts for santa, (yes we make doughnuts, we figure he’s tired of cookies by the time he gets to our house, plus we get to eat the “leftovers” for breakfast 😉 ) and getting two overly excited girls in bed, reading “the night before Christmas” and our devotional, and praying, and wrapping all the the girls gifts last minute by myself because Caleb was working, and filling the stockings, and remembering to move the Elf on the shelf…well, anyways, needless to say, I didn’t quite get around to posting anything on Christmas eve… but heres a sweet pic of Reese’s stocking hung by the chimney with care. =) 2013 was our last Christmas apart… it is indeed, a HAPPY new year!!

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One thought on “HAPPY new year”

What a dear, dear friend and Sister Hillary is to me and has become. I am Belle’s foster Mom in China. Yes, I have lived in China for now over 7 years. I absolutely love it here and know it is where I am meant to be. There can be no greater feeling than that.
I met Hillary about 3-4 years ago on a Women’s retreat her ch had come here to do..and my life has not been the same since, thankfully. There is much I could tell you in my part of this story…but this is for them…Perhaps if Hillary would like I could do that at another time. This has been an incredible journey for us all.
Last year I had to take Belle back to the orphanage after her being with me for almost 5 years..it was the most difficult day of my life. I have never cried so hard as I did the next day when the shock of having to do that hit me. But He has been so good and comforting to me in all this…and know He has a Bigger plan in all this than what we can see right now..and allowed it to happen for some reason or many that have not unfolded yet.
I will admit I was a bit bummed that Hillary and Caleb will not be adopting Belle at this time but then thought, really this is giving me still more time with her so yeah !!! Even though I still only get her now every other weekend and holidays..there was a time last year when we didnt’ even think I would get to do that…what a year it was for me last year here too..and can’t imagine what it has been like for Belle too to be “ripped” literally from my arms to have to go back there (she is with a beautiful Chinese family right now…though I don’t think they know Him, they are sweet caring good people..,that i can tell …and Belle has shared with them about Him…go Belle !! 🙂
Anyway, I rejoice and am so proud of Hillary and Caleb for doing this. There are too many here that need families and a Mommy and a Daddy too….:-( Bless them..and I do pr that if it is HIs will, they will still be able to adopt Belle somedaytoo because I can’t imagine a better family I would want her to be with…His will done. Bless them..and I know I am so blessed to have Hillary’s encouragement and prs and support with me in all this too….XXXXXX Love you all–Hill, Caleb, Riley and Rowan and now soon to be Reese….:-) XXXXXXXXX